Many are drawn to North Florida for its warm climates, reasonable cost of living, friendly neighborhood, and of course, its pristine beaches. Some of the top beaches in the US can be found in North Florida.
Our 14 Best North Florida Beaches are as follows:
- Navarre Beach
- Grayton Beach
- Henderson Beach State Park
- Pensacola Beach
- Clearwater Beach
- St. George Island
- St. Augustine Beach
- Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
- Panama City Beach
- Jacksonville Beach
- Crescent Beach
- Daytona Beach
- Main Beach
- Fort Walton Beach
A visit to North Florida is not complete without stopping to appreciate its clean and captivating beaches. Families flock to the best North Florida to experience, not only its warm weather and laid-back atmosphere but also its beautiful beaches. Check out this list of family-friendly beaches in North Florida.
14 Best North Florida Beaches
1. Navarre Beach
People who come to Navarre Beach describe it as a special little spot for a quiet, peaceful beach stroll. It is a place to go for people looking for a place to slow down and relax. The Navarre beach is uncrowded and unspoiled with its natural and charming blend of waterfront attraction. It offers a backwoods adventure for everyone who wants to explore one of the best beaches in North Florida.
As they say, a Florida vacation is not complete without a visit to the beach. And Navarre Beach is one of the North Florida Beaches you shouldn’t miss. It’s a place where you can soak up the sun, and the emerald waves are something you can’t resist.
2. Grayton Beach
Grayton Beach is one of the best North Florida Beaches and a favorite vacation retreat for its emerald green water and beach sunset. Visitors find this beach quite stunning for the natural beauty that remained intact even after neighboring places around it were developed as state forest reserves and parks. The beach received a Blue Wave Beach certification for its natural beauty and perfectly clean environment.
Grayton is also dubbed the fourth most attractive beach in the US. It has a casual ambiance perfect for spending time with family and friends. It offers wonderful settings where you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and even surf fishing. Visitors can enjoy their stay at the vacation rental properties within Grayton Beach, where they can create lovely memories.
3. Henderson Beach State Park
It’s time to get ready and hit the beach. With its majestic shoreline, snow-white sand, Henderson Beach is one of the best summer gateways. It’s a place where you can enjoy blue-green sparkling waters and white beaches where you can create memories to cherish for many years ahead. It has nice facilities for beachgoers who want to enjoy a short nature walk.
Henderson Beach State Park is perfect for swimming, though visitors are reminded to pay attention to swimming conditions indicated by warning flag signs. But you can’t go wrong in visiting the place. It has a perfect view, a peaceful environment, and a spacious place where visitors can enjoy lovely sunsets. Henderson Beach is a must-see beach in North Florida.
4. Pensacola Beach
There are many beautiful things about Pensacola Beach that draw beach lovers to its sands. Other than its sugar-white beaches and crystal clear waters, visitors enjoy its pristine and inviting atmosphere. One of the attractions of Pensacola Beach is the dolphin sightings, especially during winter. However, the most popular pastime at the beach includes building sandcastles, beachcombing, and body surfing. Pensacola Beach is a family-friendly beach where parents can bring their children for safe and enjoyable activities.
Visitors looking for more excitement find the place great for water sports such as swimming and snorkeling. Although most are already in awe with the beach’s soft white sands, making the beach a perfect place for walking or just soaking in the sunshine.
5. Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach offers inviting white sand and clear water, making it one of the favorites among beachgoers. Travelers who spent some time at Clearwater Beach described it as a perfect place for walking, jogging, tanning, or just watching the sun. There’s no shortage of activities in this piece of paradise with its fabulous views and ocean breeze.
With many visitors who dropped by the beach, Clearwater Beach remains clean, secure, and attractive. It’s a fun place to visit, with its powder-soft sand, perfect for laying out on fine weather. The place is spacious enough, so the place is not overcrowded. Plus, restaurants and bars near the beach are reasonably priced.
6. St. George Island
St. George Island is one of the best beaches in North Florida Gulf Coast and is consistently ranked as one of the US’s top beaches. It has miles of uncrowded space for walking and soaking up the sun, crystal clear waters for swimming, and undisturbed wildlife for viewing. It’s a perfect family destination, which means you can pack up and come with your pooch! Yes, St. George Island welcomes four-legged visitors, making it one among the pet-friendly beaches in Florida.
So many things await visitors on St. George Island. You get a chance to experience both inshore and offshore fishing. You can throw a rod in the bay and expect to hook up with a catch. But adventurous anglers can rent paddle boats and kayaks to venture out to deeper parts of the water for what it offers.
7. St. Augustine Beach
Visitors describe St. Augustine Beach as a beautiful and accessible getaway. Despite its location near a residential stretch, St. Augustine Beach remains pristine with its clean, wide, and uncrowded environment. It is among the best beaches in North Florida, where everything that every visitor needs are catered for.
8. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
A cool-off in the ocean is one of the remarkable things visitors remember about Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. It is one of the favorite North Florida beaches as it was not crowded as most other coastlines. Some beachgoers felt like they own a private beach as there are not many people around during their stay.
It is an exquisite beach with white quartz dunes that form part of its rare coastal ecosystem. You can expect to see different species around as you pass through pine forests, wetlands, dunes, and sandy scrubland. From the clear emerald water to the miles of white sandy beach, Topsail Hill is a beautiful place where everything is great.
9. Panama City Beach
Those who’ve been to Panama Beach love it. One that differentiates it from the best beaches on North Florida Gulf Coast is that this one is eclectic, where everything is all in one place. There are many other quality beaches in North Florida, but the Panama Beach experience is different with all the new but friendly people you meet. It feels like home getting to know extremely approachable people.
You will fall in love with Panama Beach. It is one of the most beautiful spots for vacation, plus, there are always things to do. It is highly recommended for family vacations, especially for those looking to experience fishing and water activities.
10. Jacksonville Beach
A quick visit to Jacksonville Beach will surely make you fall in love with the place. It’s a great destination for people who are sometimes looking to spend time on the beach. With its super clean white sand, Jacksonville Beach is perfect for easy walks and bike rides. The place is not only great during summer, as it offers fun to visitors even during winter.
Jax Beach is the main beach in Jacksonville, but you will be surprised to know that the place remains uncrowded. There are many things to do at Jacksonville Beach, from just relaxing with your favorite person to renting a beach cruiser to explore the water’s edge.
11. Crescent Beach
Perfect sunset, lovely seashells, and pure white soft power sand. These are only some of the attractive features that most visitors love about Crescent Beach, which got its name from its coastline’s shape. With its hard-packed sand, visitors can enjoy walking, running, biking, and even playing volleyball.
You can look forward to a relaxing day on the beach, though you wouldn’t want to miss the excitement of water sports from swimming to boogie boarding. Some of the facilities available at Crescent Beach include restrooms, showers, pavilion, lifeguards, picnic tables, and off-beach parking.
12. Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach is well maintained and offers a wonderful view, most of which you cannot experience anywhere else. It is a very down-to-earth place and one of the best beaches in North Florida. Other than its natural attractions and inviting resorts, Daytona beach is especially known for the Motorsports Hall of Fame and Daytona International Speedway.
If you’re searching for a family-friendly getaway, then Daytona Beach is the place to go. It offers new adventures for everyone, from a leisure stroll along its 23 miles of uncrowded beach to a push through the waves.
13. Main Beach
Main Beach is a lovely place where you don’t need to pay to park! There is plenty of space, and you can even park next to the beach. It is a gorgeous place and a must for North Florida visitors. You can try to sift and find some shark teeth through the sand, though many strollers were lucky to have chanced upon shark teeth and beautiful unbroken shells without trying.
Main Beach is a perfect place for the family and offers a clean and big space for young children. There are many picnic tables and shade from where you can relax while watching the picture-perfect beach. With its well-maintained amenities closed by, going to Main Beach is one of the best ways to relax.
14. Fort Walton Beach
The powdery white beach of Forth Walton Beach makes it an inviting place to go. Located on the glittering Gulf Coast of North Florida, Forth Walton Beach is an excellent place for your next vacation. With its beautiful parks and amenities, visitors described this park as a family-friendly beach.
Those who are looking for more adventure may want to take a chance at boat fishing. You may wish to try surfing, though you don’t need it to enjoy the place.
Conclusion – Best North Florida Beaches
To review once more, here are the 14 best North Florida Beaches:
- Navarre Beach
- Grayton Beach
- Henderson Beach State Park
- Pensacola Beach
- Clearwater Beach
- St. George Island
- St. Augustine Beach
- Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
- Panama City Beach
- Jacksonville Beach
- Crescent Beach
- Daytona Beach
- Main Beach
- Fort Walton Beach
With its pristine and family-oriented beaches, North Florida is one of the favorite among travelers. Vacationers will surely enjoy the beaches, with all the amenities, friendly atmosphere, sparkling waters, miles of coastline, and sugar-white sands. The Best North Florida beaches offer inviting landscapes and scenic views that make visitors want to stay.